Display easel



Jan. 10, 1939. F. A.IBINDER 2,143,368

DISPLAY EAS EL Filed Nov. 6, 1937 Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES iPATE N OFF IC E :DISPLAY EASEL Frank AfBlnder, New York, N. Y.

*ApplicationNovember" 6, 1937, Serial No. 173,064

.4'Claims.

Reference is hereinafter made 1 to the i accompanying drawing forming part ofthisspe'cification, and to the reference numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relatesto display 'easels, particularly for the display of wall papers. It is my object to provide a practical, inexpensive display easel that is simple in construction, lightin weight, neat in appearance, and onetha-t will not fold together or collapse when in use.

A further object isto fit the easel with a bracket for the purpose of holding objects or materials that are to be shown in conjunction with samples displayed on the easel. This is attained by the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. l is a perspective view from the back of the device, Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section of the guide, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the separator showing the connection with the easel legs, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the separator fitted to the guide. When the easel is used for the display of wall papers it stands on the floor and the various samples are turned down from a. sample book attached to the easel, as will further be explained.

I have found that for lightness in weight, rigid construction and neat appearance the combined use of metal and wood, shaped and constructed as shown, to be very satisfactory. Referring to Fig. 1, the part of the easel I call the front comprises a side piece I, a like opposite side piece 2, and a center piece 3, these being preferably of wood, and same being joined together by a top cross piece 4 and a lower cross piece 5, said cross pieces being preferably of metal. The top cross piece 4 is flanged at 6 to finish off the top of the easel and give added strength to same. It will be noted that the top cross piece 4 is shaped at the ends l and 8 to fit around the side pieces I and The lower cross piece 5 is also provided with similar shaped ends 9 and I0, and for added strength a flanged strip I I. These parts are connected and attached together, preferably with rivets, as indicated at points 12 to H. This combination of parts and construction makes a firm and substantial front.

Further reference is had to Fig. 1. The front is provided with supporting legs l8 and I9, held in position by leg cross piece 26, also shaped at the ends to fit around said legs and attached thereto with rivets 2i and 22.

To join the front and legs I provide the side pieces I and 2 with drilled apertures 23 and 24, and the legs with similar apertures 25 and 26. into the apertures of the front and legs I fit rivets 2'l an d 28. Separating washers 29 and 3|] and finishing washers 3| and 32 are provided to permit easy movable action of the legs and the front.

"This isa simple form of hinging arrangement.

See Fig. 1. .5

To maintain the front and legs in'proper relative positio'n when the easel-is in open position for uses'I provide a sepa1'ator 33, made in its present form of twarods of identical size andshape, and

:bentlto-form arms 34-and35-and bent'at the 10 opposite ends to form tips 36 'and 31. 'The 'two bent rods comprising the separator 33 are held together to make a unit by a clamp 38. See Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

The arms 34 and 35 of the separator 33 are 15 fitted movably into drilled apertures 39 and 40 in the legs is and I9, see Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, this also being a simple hinging arrangement for said separator. By referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the center piece 3 is about the same thick- 20 ness at the top as side pieces I and 2, however said center piece is thinned down to about thickness along approximately of its length. Into this thinned portion of the center piece 3 I attach firmly to said center piece a guide made 25 in its present form of two angle strips 4| and 42, see Figs. 1, 2 and 4. These angle strips may be riveted to the center piece. The tips 36 and 31 of the separator 33 fit into the guide between the angle strips 4! and 42 so as to be movable 80 up and down along the length of said guide when the easel is opened or closed. The lower ends of the angle strips are cut in slightly and bent downward, 43 and 44, Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, to form stops to limit the downward movement of the 85 separator so that same will not slide out of the guide when the easel is in open position.

I wish to point out that when the easel is open, the separator being rigid, the front and legs are held in firm and fixed relation as the weight from 40 the top serves to lock these parts tightly; in fact it is necessary to move the separator up to beyond V the length of the guide to close up the easel, thus eliminating the possibility that the easel will fold together and fall when goods are being 45 displayed.

Slots 45 and 46, Fig. 1, in the top cross piece 4 are for the purposeof receiving bolts when a sample book is attached to the easel by the bolt and nut method, which I prefer. I also find it of advantage to provide the easel with a bracket which in its present form is a bolt 41, Fig. 1, fitted at the end with a nut 48, said bracket being movably fitted into a drilled aperture 49 near the top of the side piece 1. When this bracket .the front structure, and the separator to fit between the guide strips; which in turn are set into the thin part of center piece 3; thus maintaining a uniform compact thickness. This is of advan-'-' tage when the easel is folded together for shipment, either in quantity or singly as it reduces the possibility, of breakage.

The simplicity of construction and design of my easel enables the parts to be easily and readily assembled, thus reducing the cost of manufacture. I have described the preferred form of construction of my invention, however, it will be understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, and materials used Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:-

1. In a display easel, the combination of a front structure; legs attached to said front structure and adapted to support same; a rigid separator provided with bent tips, hinged between said legs; and a guide fitted to the front structure, same being adapted to receive the tips of the separator in sliding engagement.

2. In a display easel, the combination of a front structure provided with guide strips; legs pivoted to said front structure and adapted to support same; and a separator pivotally mounted on said legs, said separator being shaped to fit the guide strips of the front structure in vertical sliding engagement.

3. In a .display easel, the combination of a front structure; legs hinged thereto and adapted to support same; a rigid separator provided with bent tips, hinged between said legs; and a guide attached to the front structure, same being adapted to receive the bent tips of the said separator so that the separator will move up or down along the guide; and stops formed at the end of said guide to limit the downward movement of the separator.

4. In a display easel, the combination of a front structure; legs hinged thereto and adapted to support same; a rigid separator provided with bent tips, hinged between said legs; a guide attached to the front structure, same being adapted to receive the bent tips of the separator in sliding engagement; stops formed at the end of said guide to limit the downward movement of the separator; and attaching slots provided at the top of the front structure for the purpose as shown.

FRANK A. BINDER. 

